Co-op Shoppers Give Back Over $12K in First Year of Register Round Up

April 10, 2014

In its inaugural year, East End Food Co-op shoppers contributed a total of $12,909.92 to local charitable organizations through the Register Round Up program!

The Register Round Up Program was introduced in April 2013. The program’s concept is simple: As customers are rung up for their purchases, they are asked if they want to round up their total to the nearest dollar, this difference is then donated to a charity selected by the Co-op. Although this rounding up may only cost a few cents to the customer, when combined with all the other customers’ spare change, it results in a significant contribution.

A thank you note from Shirl Regan, President/CEO of the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, helps highlight how spare change can really add up: “Thank you for your donation through the proceeds of Register Round Up! Your contributions provided almost 7,000 clients access to the specific programs and resources they need, so that they can heal from trauma and move on to safe, productive lives.”

The East End Food Co-op elects a different organization each month to receive the donations. Priority is given to local organizations that support causes related to nutrition, education, food access, and sustainability, and whose missions are in line with the Co-op’s Ends Statement:

The East End Food Co-op exists to enhance the physical and social health in our community. To these ends, we will create:

A sustainable member-owned business open to everyone

An ethical and resilient food infrastructure

A vibrant, dynamic community of happy, healthy people

A creative vision to transform the future

Organizations are recognized during their Round Up month with a write-up in the Co-op’s monthly newsletter, The Co-operator, through the Co-op’s social media channels, and in-store with signage at each check out. Organizations are also welcomed into the store where they can hand out brochures and promotional materials and chat with shoppers about their organization’s mission and the work they do in the community. The Co-op does not retain any portion of the proceeds from each month of Rounding Up; everything is donated to that month’s charity.

Organizations that were selected as 2013/2014 Register Round Up recipients include:

Shady Lane

Clean Water Action

Food for Change

POWER (Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery)

Institute for Responsible Technology

Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Faison K-5

Nine Mile Watershed Association

Just Harvest

Children’s Institute

Grow Pittsburgh

Bike Pittsburgh

The Register Round Up program helps the Co-op fulfill the seventh cooperative principle: concern for community. It also gives our shoppers an easy way to give back to local charitable organizations that are providing great work in Pittsburgh communities. Thank you to all the Co-op shoppers who have Rounded Up this year!